Veg Phase
The ability to move your cuttings or seedlings seamlessly from stage to stage without stressing them out is key to achieving optimal yields. Extra care during the early days will pay massive dividends later on. Growers need to be particularly aware of sudden changes in humidity, temperature, light intensity and EC.
Transition to Veg Phase (Hardening Off)
Avoid stressing plants with sudden changes in humidity, temperature, light and EC.
Are plants ready for transplanting?
1. Ensure there are plenty of air pruned roots on the outside of the pot and check that roots have colonized the substrate (Fig 6.3). Do not leave it too late otherwise roots will begin to circle the pot and become root-bound. To inspect roots, gently lift the plant by tapping or squeezing the pot on all sides – particularly from beneath. If there are not many visible roots, or the medium is falling apart, then the plant is not ready for transplanting.
2. Test the cuttings capacity to withstand the humidity and temperature used in the vegetative phase. Test for an hour or two to begin with. TIP: Eventually placing the propagation lid on an angle will provide a temperature and humidity that is ‘closer’ to the eventual grow room environment.
Keys for transplanting
1. Choose the right pot size. Transplanting to an over-sized pot will discourage roots from searching for water. It will also cause the outer medium to become water-logged and prone to water borne diseases such as pythium. Use an intermediate sized pot and give the roots time to fully colonize the substrate BEFORE replanting into a larger pot (Fig 6.2).
2. Ensure that the new substrate is flushed and watered with fresh nutrient solution. Refer to Veg week-1 on the FloraMax Dose Chart. Root-XS and Clone Spray will help greatly to alleviate transplant stress and maximize root growth.
Veg phase (Veg)
Creating the right environment is essential for promoting a short, stocky plant. This is the ideal shape for indoor growing:
1. Be careful changing straight to powerful LED or HID lights as plants may become stressed. Optimum PPFD and day length of 18 hours will help avoid “stretch”. See Table 10.3.
2. Root-XS, OrganaBud and Growth-XS will ensure optimum root and structural growth. For coco, soil or Rockwool, ensure feeds are frequent and with enough run-off – see Table 10.3.
3. Topping and Low Stress Training (LST) should be done during veg to maximize the number of bud sites and ensure all foliage receives enough light.
4. Humidity and temperature: See Table 10.3 for optimum VPD. Generally maintain 50-70% RH and “lights-on” temperatures of 68-82 deg F (20-27 deg C). At “night” do NOT allow the temperature to drop by more than 9 deg F (5 deg C).
5. Pest management: Insects can be prevented from entering the system by filtering incoming air. Use a magnifying glass to regularly inspect the roots, substrate and both sides of leaves (Fig 11.2). “Yellow sticky traps” are useful as a forewarning.
© Andrew M Taylor
